European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President Lilyana Pavlova has visited North Macedonia to reaffirm the Bank’s longstanding commitment to supporting the country’s sustainable growth, through investments in vital infrastructure and close cooperation with local partners. On this occasion, the Bank signed an investment of €50 million to construct and refurbish water supply, wastewater and flood protection infrastructure, available to the country’s 80 municipalities. This funding will help improve the coverage, quality and climate resilience of water and sanitation services, while protecting public health and the environment. The project will benefit some 700 000 people, create new economic opportunities and strengthen climate change resilience for around 40% of country’s population.

Selected municipalities will be able to utilise the funds to install and modernise water and wastewater infrastructure, distribution and collection networks, as well as emergency flood protection measures. North Macedonia’s Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning will implement the municipal water investment programme with technical support from the EIB equivalent to €1.2 million. This action forms part of the Economic Resilience Initiative, aimed at mobilising additional financing to support growth, vital infrastructure and social cohesion in the Western Balkans.